Reviewed for the 2026 season
Egypt’s official language is Arabic, but the variety you’ll hear on the streets of Luxor is Egyptian Arabic – a dialect that’s softer and more melodic than Modern Standard Arabic, and widely understood across the Arab world due to Egypt’s dominant film and music culture. Most people working in tourism in Luxor speak English well enough to help you, but making the effort with a few words of Arabic produces a response that English alone almost never does: genuine warmth, the sense that you’re a guest rather than a customer, and occasionally a better price.
Greetings
| Phrase | Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Peace be upon you (standard greeting) | السلام عليكم | Salam alaikum |
| And upon you peace (response) | وعليكم السلام | Wa alaikum el-salam |
| Good morning | صباح الخير | Sabah el-kheir |
| Good morning (response) | صباح النور | Sabah el-nour |
| Good evening | مساء الخير | Masa el-kheir |
| How are you? | عامل إيه؟ | Amel eh? |
| Fine, thank you | كويس، شكراً | Kuwayyes, shukran |
Salam alaikum is the greeting that opens every interaction in Egypt. Using it first – before any request or transaction – signals basic cultural literacy and is almost always met with a smile.
Politeness Essentials
| Phrase | Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Thank you | شكراً | Shukran |
| Please (to a man) | من فضلك | Min fadlak |
| Please (to a woman) | من فضلك | Min fadlik |
| You’re welcome | عفواً | Afwan |
| Excuse me / Sorry | آسف | Aasif (men) / Aasfa (women) |
Restaurants and Markets
| Phrase | Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| The menu, please | المنيو، من فضلك | El-menyu, min fadlak |
| Is there vegetarian food? | في أكل نباتي؟ | Fi akl nabaty? |
| Without meat | من غير لحمة | Min gheir lahma |
| The bill, please | الحساب، من فضلك | El-hesab, min fadlak |
| Delicious | لذيذ | Lazeez |
Ghali awi (“too expensive”) is your single most useful phrase in any market or souq. Say it calmly, not aggressively – bargaining in Egypt is a social activity, not a confrontation.
Emergency Phrases
| Phrase | Arabic | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | مساعدة! | Musaeida! |
| Call the police | اتصل بالبوليس | Ittasil bil-bolees |
| I need a doctor | أنا محتاج دكتور | Ana mehtag doktor |
| I’m lost | أنا ضايع | Ana dayye’ (men) / Ana dayy’a (women) |
| Hospital | مستشفى | Mustashfa |
Temple & Museum Vocabulary
A handful of Arabic terms makes Luxor’s monuments more legible – you’ll hear and see these throughout the sites.
معبد
Ma’bad
Temple
قبر
Qabr
Tomb
ملك
Malik
King
ملكة
Malika
Queen
الله
Allah
God
نهر
Nahr
River
جمل
Gamal
Camel
حنطور
Hantour
Horse-drawn carriage
Note on “Gamal”: The Nile is en-Nil. And gamal (camel) illustrates the Egyptian “g” sound perfectly – in other Arab countries this word is pronounced “jamal.”
Phrases Specifically Useful in Luxor
Taxis and transport
Before getting in any taxi, agree on a price: Bekam el-taxi le…? (“How much is the taxi to…?”) Having the destination written in Arabic on your phone helps considerably. The inDrive app removes the language barrier for rides entirely.
At the Luxor Souq
The bargaining sequence: offer around 40–50% of the asking price, say ghali awi if they don’t move, and work toward a middle point. No one is offended by reasonable negotiation; it’s expected.
At temples and tombs
Guides often switch between English and Arabic when speaking to Egyptian colleagues. Knowing shukran and min fadlak is the minimum courtesy when working with any local guide.
Arabic on your phone
For destinations in taxis, having the Arabic name ready on your phone screen removes ambiguity entirely. Your hotel’s front desk can help you save a few key destinations before you head out.
Cultural Notes
Essential
Greet before askingGreeting before asking is not optional – it’s the baseline. Walking up to someone and immediately making a request without a salam alaikum is perceived as rude in the same way that ignoring someone who holds a door open would be in most Western contexts. The greeting takes five seconds and changes every subsequent interaction.
Right hand
Avoid the left handAvoid using your left hand to give money, food, or items. The right hand is the social hand throughout the Arab world. This isn’t rigidly policed, but the habit is worth forming.
Context matters
Eye contactEye contact in conversation signals engagement and sincerity. Prolonged staring across a distance has different connotations – the relevant distinction is between looking at someone you’re speaking with and staring at a stranger.
Learning Resources
Free
DuolingoHas Egyptian Arabic in beta – limited but useful for pronunciation.
Free
YouTubeSearch “Egyptian Arabic for beginners” – several Egyptian teachers offer free pronunciation-focused lessons.
App
MemriseDedicated Egyptian Arabic course with audio. Better for vocabulary retention than Duolingo.
Physical
Lonely Planet Egyptian Arabic PhrasebookThe most compact and Luxor-relevant option for carrying in a bag.
Ready to navigate on the ground?
Check getting around Luxor
Fares, ferries, and how to cross between the East and West Banks – with the phrases above, you’re ready.